“Sounds delicious. How can I help?” Arlo asks.
“Oh, just sit and enjoy yourself. You’re a guest. Do you want something to drink?” Ainsley asks sweetly like she doesn’t interact with Arlo on a semi-regular basis.
“I’ll get it,” I jump in, feeling inadequate as a girlfriend already.
Am I his girlfriend? I mean, technically, I’m his wife, but am I considered girlfriend level now?Yes, you overthinking mess of a woman, especially if the conversation before we came here is anything to go by.
I grab him some iced tea from the refrigerator and grab myself a seltzer. Ainsley and Ledger look at each other, eyebrows raised, and I roll my eyes at their antics.
“Why, thank you,Marina,” Arlo jokes.
“Stop. You’re giving them more to work with.” I chuckle as I set his drink down and take a healthy gulp of mine.
“Knock, knock!” Oakley yells as he enters the house.
“Hi, we’re here! Sorry, I got distracted writing,” Willow says, looking rather frazzled.
They both stop the second they enter the kitchen, and Oakley’s smirk is bigger than I’ve ever seen.
“Not you two as well,” I groan. “It’s not even fair since Oakley knows too much.” I bury my head in Arlo’s neck as he laughs.
“It was just about when you’d bring him to family dinner!” Oakley protests.
“And who won?” Arlo asks. He grunts as I slap his chest.
“I did, of course,” Oakley says.
“Barely.” Willow rolls her eyes. “And what’s this about insider knowledge? I call a mulligan because that’s cheating, my dear James.” She smirks.
“Okay, that’s enough of that. I can already see the heart eyes happening, and making out is never far away from that.” I gesture to them wildly.
Everyone laughs as I groan.
“I’m so happy we could provide tonight’s entertainment,” I say sarcastically.
Arlo chuckles as he pulls me back to his side. “How can we help?” he asks.
“I think we’re good. Just going to pop the potatoes in the microwave because we were running late—” I gasp. “I know, I know, don’t give me shit. I’ll crisp up the skin in the oven, I promise.” I wipe my brow in reliefas she points her knife at me. “And then the chicken and veg will go on the grill. Nothing else really to do.”
Arlo leans in next to my ear as the rest of the family starts talking about business. “I don’t think I told you, but you look beautiful tonight,” he whispers.
I lean back and look at my usual outfit of leggings and a tank top with skepticism. He yanks me back to him and leans in. “It’s not your outfit; it’s your whole demeanor. I know your family gives you a hard time, but you’re playful and so damn sexy right now.”
I move closer to his chest and soak in his words. He may be onto something. Just like when I talked to Lennox, it feels like little pieces of me are changing for the better. Like I’m less bitter, less beaten down by life. The constant grind that I’m always on doesn’t seem so appealing anymore. And it’s because of this man.
“Can we leave immediately after dinner?” I ask quietly.
I feel his smirk even though I can’t see it. “We can do whatever you want, Emmerdeur.” He presses a kiss to my temple.
“Eww, get a room. Is this how you normally feel around us?” Willow says in a little sister tone I haven’t heard in years.
“Yep, this is payback,” I say smoothly, still buried in Arlo’s chest.
“You and Oakley are the worst of us all. I wouldn’t be one to talk, Will,” Ledger says as he walks out the patio doors.
Willow gasps, “We are not! Are we?” She turns to Oakley, who just laughs. “Whatever, I’m not apologizing.” She shrugs and drops her indignation act.
Shortly after the usual shenanigans of the Hutton siblings—minus Lennox—dinner is served, although we leave an open seat for him.
